Matthew Lindsay Petty loyalties can be put to one side for historic final
TAtmospheres here are vastly superior to those in larger football countries
HERE was a tentative approach from No.2 son – the one who is Celtic-daft, who sleeps in a 1988 CR Smith top, who has Reo Hatate celebrating his opener against Rangers back in February as his WhatsApp profile picture – as bags were being packed for a trip to Germany earlier this week.
“Dad, can you get me an Eintracht Frankfurt strip to wear for the Europa League final when you’re away,” he asked ambitiously as toiletries were being shoved in a clear plastic bag and the continental adapter was being located.
That’s the spirit junior! The first time a Scottish club has played in a European final in your short lifetime and you’ll be tuning in to cheer on their opponents. Nothing like putting tribal loyalties to one side and getting firmly behind your nation’s flagbearers on such an historic occasion.
His unfortunate attitude, though, should be no surprise. His stance will be shared by the vast majority of the Parkhead club’s supporters as well as fans of their Premiership rivals. As the song goes, no one likes Rangers. So why should they care?
Followers of the Ibrox club hardly donned green and white scarves when their age-old adversaries took on Porto in the UEFA Cup final in Seville back in 2003. Nor did they sit by their televisions shouting: “C’mon the Hoops!” They were jubilant as Jose Mourinho’s men defeated Martin O’Neill’s charges after extra-time.
Fan culture has long been deeply unpleasant. Much of the bile which emanates from the stands on match days is reprehensible and impossible to condone. But there are definite benefits to the enmity that exists. The atmospheres generated in stadiums here are vastly superior to those in larger and richer football countries. We should be wary of the gentrification of the modern game.
There is something quite unsettling about the callers to the Superscoreboard programme on Radio Clyde who phone in and magnanimously declare: “I’m a Celtic fan, but I’m hoping Rangers win because it will be great for Scottish football”. Call yourself a
supporter? Get a bloody grip of yourself, man!
Yet, Ange Postecoglou showed his class when he was presented with the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year award a dinner in a Glasgow city centre hotel last Sunday.
He paid tribute to his fellow nominees Malky Mackay, Dick Campbell, Robbie Neilson and Steve Clarke and lauded the work they have done with Ross County, Arbroath, Hearts and Scotland respectively this term as soon he took to the stage. But he then took time to praise the job that Giovanni van Bronckhorst has done at Rangers since succeeding Steven Gerrard as manager back in November and publicly expressed hope they can beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in Seville on Wednesday night.
It was just what you would expect from the Greek-Australian. His ability to rise above the pettiness and insanity of the Old Firm rivalry has been as important to his success here as his knack for motivating players, spotting a bargain in the transfer market or devising a sound game plan.
He had a definite point. There is so much negativity in the Scottish game. There are wearying controversies over refereeing decisions every weekend, infantile squabbles between clubs and governing bodies and the fare served up on the field of play often leaves a great deal to be desired.
So a success story like Rangers reaching a European final should be celebrated and embraced by all. What James Tavernier and his team-mates have achieved has been nothing short of remarkable regardless of what transpires in Andalusia next week. They have silenced those who snort with disdain when speaking about the football north of Hadrian’s Wall.
What is more, they have proved that the widening financial gulf between the Premiership and the Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A is not necessarily an impediment to our clubs performing well in Europe.
No longer will clubs be able to use the superior funds which their foreign rivals have at their disposal as an excuse for failing to progress beyond the qualifying rounds or being unable to go through to the knockout rounds.
When Celtic play in the Champions League group stage and Hearts take to the field in the Europa League or Conference League next season they may well have loftier ambitions and greater self-belief because of what Rangers have done in the past nine months.
Postecoglou will certainly have much to prove. He sampled European football for the first time in his long career this season and was helpless to prevent his new-look side exiting three competitions. However, he showed enough to suggest that he can do well abroad as well as at home. AZ Alkmaar, Ferencvaros and Real Betis were all overcome impressively. He will be determined to build on those performances.
Before then, the Celtic manager will be keeping his fingers crossed that Rangers beat Eintracht Frankfurt in Wednesday night’s Europa League final. All of Scottish football should join him.
TOMORROW Susan Egelstaff